The Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) is committed to supporting all Tulane faculty and teaching focused professionals, in and out of the classroom, through the entire arc of their career. In partnership with other University offices, we assist in providing faculty with information on such matters as personnel management (for PIs of research grants), family leave, retirement planning, and work-life balance matters. The proposed services and guides listed below are subject to change to reflect the needs and desires of Tulane’s faculty.
Peer Observations are a completely no-stakes, 100% confidential way to improve and enhance your teaching through constructive, formative feedback. It is the process through which a peer provides thoughtful, informed feedback to a colleague for the purpose of enhancing the quality of that individual’s (classroom) instruction.
The process and confidentiality:
Peer Observations consist of a pre-observation meeting, a classroom observation, a conversation between your students and the Peer Observer (PO) during the last ten minutes of the class, and a post-observation meeting. After the final meeting, the PO will delete all information from his or her computer. Further, neither CELT nor anyone else will be privy to the conversations regarding the process.
Additionally, faculty members are never paired with a PO from their own department and we attempt to pair them with someone outside of their school, thus the content of the class a non-issue.
Why participate?
- To improve classroom teaching through constructive, formative feedback.
- To promote the professional development of individual faculty and instructors.
- To build a culture of faculty who genuinely care about becoming better teachers.
FAQs:
Q: Who can participate in Peer Observations?
A: Anyone who is teaching a course at Tulane University is invited to participate, including faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students. However, as space is limited and faculty participation will be prioritized.
Q: Who Can Benefit from Peer Observations?
A: Everyone from first year instructors to long experienced full professors, and of
course, ultimately the students.
Q: Who qualifies as a peer?
A: A full-time Tulane faculty member outside of one’s home department and ideally from a different school.
Q: What qualifications does the Peer Observer possess?
A: Each of CELT’s Peer Observers are thoroughly trained, have been observed themselves, and have conducted multiple observations.
Q: Is the outcome of the process confidential?
A: Yes! The information passed between professor and Peer Observer will remain
strictly confidential. Only the professor will receive the final report, both in hard and
digital copy.
Sign up here to work with a Peer Observer in your classroom.
CELT offers one-on-one consultations with Eunice Ofori, CELT's Senior Instructional Designer. Eunice earned her PhD from Virginia Tech in Instructional Design and Technology. These consultations are meant to provide you and/or your colleagues the opportunity to confidentially discuss course design, syllabi construction, active learning activities, assessment creation, classroom management, educational technology, etc. Submit a consultation request.
Instructional Accessibility Network
Click here to learn more and find resources regarding the Instructional Accessibility Network.
Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Workshop Series
This series, consisting of 5 workshops across the 2025 – 26 academic year, will walk participants through the lifecycle of a SoTL project from the development of a research question, to the IRB process, potential funding sources and ending in publication strategies.
At the end of the series, all participants will have designed a SoTL research study, grounded in a theoretical or empirical framework, and have developed a plan for data collection and submitted an IRB proposal. Additionally, there will be a plan for data analysis and tentative plan for publication or presentation of the results.
All full-time faculty are eligible to participate and no previous experience with SoTL is necessary. However, the expectation is that participants will develop their own study to collect data and will attend all workshop sessions.
Exact dates will be determined after the cohort of participants is finalized. Sessions will be in person with a Zoom option.
Participants who complete the workshop series will receive a stipend of $500.
If you have any question, contact Carrie Wyland, Senior Professor of Practice, Psychology at wyland@tulane.edu
Application process for AY 25-26 is closed. AY 26-27 TBD
Quality Matters professional development is designed to help educators deliver the promise of quality online learning opportunities to every level of learner — K-12, Higher Ed., Continuing & Professional Ed., and corporate training. Online, on-site and web conferencing opportunities are designed for every audience.
CELT renewed the institutional membership to access the Online Learning Consortium. OLC is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner – anyone, anywhere, anytime.
CELT offers a growing library of teaching guides. If you would like CELT to make a guide on a certain subject please email your idea to celt@tulane.edu.
- Exam Tips
- Tips for the 1st Day of Classes
- Teaching Large Classes Guide
- Inclusive Practices in Learning Environments
- Teaching Resource Manual
- Student Resource Guide for Faculty
- Syllabus Template
- How To: 10 Easy Steps to Allowing Students to Pick Assessment Weighting
- Netiquette Statements
- What to do when Tech Glitches
- Zoom Connectivity Recommendations
CELT has an ever growing Lending Library filled with books on diverse topics all relevant to teaching - pedagogy, classroom management, assessment techniques, mentoring undergraduates, the science of learning, etc. Please stop into Suite 300 of the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library if you would like to check a book out.
If you would like to suggest an additional acquisition, email celt@tulane.edu.
E-Books (Please note that off campus access might require login with your Tulane ID and password.)
Specifications Grading
Linda Nilson
Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time
Creating Engaging Discussions
Editors: Jennifer H. Herman and Linda Nilson
Strategies for Avoiding Crickets in Any Size Classroom and Online
Teaching at Its Best, Ed. 4
Linda B. Nilson
A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors
Online Teaching at Its Best
Linda B. Nilson and Ludwika A. Goodson
Merging Instructional Design with Teaching and Learning Research
Small Teaching Online
Flower Darby and James M. Lang
Applying Learning Science in Online Classes
The Teaching Portfolio
Peter Seldin, J. Elizabeth Miller, and Clement A. Seldin
A Practical Guide to Improved Performance and Promotion/Tenure Decisions
Minds Online
Michelle D. Miller
Teaching Effectively with Technology
The Blended Course Design Workbook
Kathryn E. Linder
A Practical Guide
Make It Stick
The Science of Successful Learning
Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, and Mark A. McDaniel
Thrive Online
Shannon Riggs and Kathryn E. Linder
Engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning : A Guide to the Process, and How to Develop a Project From Start to Finish
Bishop-Clark, Cathy and Dietz-Uhler, Beth
Minds Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology
Michelle D. Miller
Teaching to Transgress
Bell Hooks
Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate Into Any Course to Improve Student Meta-cognition, Study Skills, and Motivation
Saundra Yancy McGuire
Teach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level
Saundra Yancy McGuire
Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning
Jose A Bowen
Inclusive Teaching: Strategies for Promoting Equity in the College Classroom
Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy
Resources for you:
Classroom Experience Assistant
Tulane Academic Alert System: If you are concerned about a student for academic reasons and want to let Tulane know, you may report your concerns through the online Academic Alert System.
Tulane Concerns: Non-academic concerns should be filed through Tulane Concerns.
Code of Student Conduct: This Student Guide includes the most frequently referenced policies related to student misconduct and is update every summer.
Student Code of Academic Conduct: Code of Academic Conduct: There are unique Codes and Honor Board processes for Newcomb-Tulane College, School of Professional Advancement, Law School, Medical School, Social Work, and graduate students in various schools. The processes mirror one another in many ways but the Honor Boards and administrative processes are closely aligned with the college or school.
Report a Campus-Related Concern, Incident, or Complaint
Tulane Provost: Faculty Development and Mentoring
Resources for your students:
Tulane Academic Success Center
Below please find resources offered by other Universities, institutions, and organizations. If you have any suggestions for resources please email celt@tulane.edu.
Teaching Resources
Teaching Conferences Directory, Kennesaw State University
Teaching Journals Directory, Kennesaw State University
Research in Action, Oregon State University
The Chronicle of Higher Education: Teaching
Inside Higher Education: Teaching and Learning
Higher Education Websites
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Wellness Resources
How to Meditate, The New York Times
Self-Compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff
The Undergraduate Student Government and Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching have collaborated to provide a Mid-Course Reflection. Please contact Toni Weiss (tweiss@tulane.edu) for more information or questions
